Pension funds to meet to discuss economic growth

MNCapital Group, an international investment advisory and institutional business development firm, in association with Africonomie UK, a UK-based investment advisory and communication firm, have confirmed that various pension funds and several international and local leading institutions will gather in Windhoek on August 22 and 23 to discuss Namibia's economic growth through pension fund investments. African pension funds are estimated to be holding US$334 billion in assets and 90 percent of these assets are held in only four countries of which Namibia is one.

Themed, Mobilizing Long-term Capital for Alternative Investments, the upcoming forum will enable critical and thought-provoking discussions and is expected to house over 100 delegates from various pension funds, financial institutions, government representatives, and local and international investment experts and will open dialogue on how pension funds, their fund managers and the general investment management industry should focus on long-term strategic collaborations to advance economic growth in the country.

Some of the other guests confirmed to participate include Tiaan Bazuin, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibian Stock Exchange, Melkizedek Uupindi, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at the Government Institutions Pension Fund, Leonie Dunn, Chairperson of the Bank of Namibia Provident Fund, Simon Ulamba, Head: Alternative Investments at Capricorn Asset Management and Nicole Martens, Head: Africa and Middle East for the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

Michael Ndinisa, Chief Executive Officer of MNCapital Group said: We are really excited about the prospects of this forum, bearing in mind that we will have professionals from not only in Namibia but from other African countries as well. This forum has been designed with a deliberate inclination towards the discussion of the formulation of pragmatic solutions, challenges and the alignment of Investment structures, regulations and best practices with current global expectations and competitiveness.

These country- specific Institutional Investments programs are designed to create a platform for the discussions of issues affecting institutional investors as well as other key players in the industry such as fund managers, custodians, administrators and every other stakeholder and will look at how to develop ways to overcome the challenges through employment of factual and time relevant information and practices as per the global standards and simultaneously matching those in Namibia.

Growing investment in Africa's economic development along an inclusive and green path depends upon the long-term investment of institutional investors in Africa because sustainable investment depends on Africa's own pension funds investing in Africa's future, said Stanley Austin, a partner at Africonomie UK.